Lawrence Scholars in Business

Tag: Lawrence Scholars in Business

Non-Trivial Career Services and LSB Message

Following what will undoubtedly be a busy Trivia Weekend, we turn our attention to Career Services and some of the upcoming opportunities for you to consider Life After Lawrence Now.  Starting Wednesday, January 28, and running through the weekend, a number of alumni and friends will be on campus to help you think about your career.  You can see who is going to be here and when by looking at the upcoming events calendar.   Send an email to Career Services if you’d like to reserve a time to meet for a general career chat  (careerservices@lawrence.edu ).

Go to the Career Services website or go drop in for more information.  Check out some of the events after the break:

Continue reading Non-Trivial Career Services and LSB Message

Lawrence Scholars Saturday

This weekend marks another big weekend for the Lawrence Scholars programs, including a visit from alums Hugh McLean, Jamie Reeve, and Mark Spertel for the Lawrence Scholars in Business program.  Our guests will talk about commercial banking and private wealth management.  I’ll try to get their bios up later today.

These events are excellent opportunities for you to get a glimpse at opportunities out in the real world, and to mix with professionals who actually want and have time to mix with you!

Entrepreneurship in Chicago

Thirty of us returned last night from another very successful Lawrence Scholars in Business trip to Chicago. Most of yesterday was “entrepreneurship day.” Before lunch, we went to ICNC, an incubator hosting over a hundred start-ups. We got to visit two of them, Souldier and Element Bars. The latter was a winner on Shark Tank! Our gracious hosts at ICNC were Steve DeBretto and Tom Cassell. Tom teaches the Entrepreneurship Practicum at the ACM Chicago Entrepreneurship program. The deadline for Fall 2012 has been extended, so it’s not too late to think about making this part of your next year. If you liked the two-day immersion experience we got in Chicago, you’ll love the term-long immersion experience you’ll get in the ACM program. Consider taking advantage of this great opportunity. The ICNC is not just a space to practice whatever your craft is, but it is also a community of entrepreneurs, with a strong support network.

After lunch at the Berghoff, we went to the Merchandise Mart to visit the just-launched hot new tech-incubator 1871. If your start-up might need a truck to pull up to your space, ICNC is where you’d want to be. But if you are a software start-up, you’d want to be at 1871, the intersection where the explosion of ideas takes place. Dozens of start-ups, six venture capital firms, four universities, many prestigious sponsors, and a number of mentors come together in a space designed beautifully for creativity.

Don’t miss that famous Chicago trip

The LSB program sponsors an educational trip to Chicago every year.  The purpose of the trip is to provide students an “immersion experience” in one of the country’s financial and entrepreneurial hubs.  The trip will take place during reading period, on May 3rd and 4th.  We will leave at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, and return in the evening on Friday.

We will have a full schedule, visiting the following organizations: Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Madison Dearborn Partners, The Northern Trust Company, Deloitte, LBC Credit Partners, Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, Ennis Knupp + Associates, and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.

The costs of the trip are covered by the LSB program. The trip is open to all students. This trip is a great opportunity to learn about the business world up-close, in a way that you couldn’t do on your own. If you would like to join, register through LUworks.  Deadline to register and pay $20 refundable deposit is April 25.

Lawrence Scholars in Law / Business Event

This Wednesday, Basil Vasiliou (1972 alum) will be on campus to talk about the potential benefits of a masters in business administration (MBA) and a law degree.  The Lawrence Scholars in Law and Lawrence Scholars in Business programs are co-hosting the event.  Mr. Vasiliou’s talk will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Cinema, and is followed by an informal dinner with students in Andrew Commons, Parish/Perille rooms.

After graduating from Lawrence, Mr. Vasiliou picked up an MBA from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Fordham, and he has worked in the financial sector, including serving as chairman and CEO of Vasiliou & Co. since 1986.

You might consider bookmarking this page to keep abreast of the Lawrence Scholars events.

A Lot More Light

This Saturday, October 29 is a maelstrom of opportunities for those of you looking to eventually enter the working world as Lawrence launches its 2011 More Light! Career Conference.  There are many, many alumni coming back to give some pep talks on leadership, taking initiative, career paths into various vocations, and what you students can do to prepare for Life After Lawrence NOW.

The particulars are quite remarkable:

Leadership in Life After Lawrence – Stansbury Theater 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. with the following distinguished alumni:

  • ABC News “Nightline,” Co-Anchor, Terry Moran ‘82
  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Division President, Joanne Bauer ’77
  • Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker, Catherine Tatge ‘72
  • Former U.S. Ambassador to India, David Mulford ‘59
  • Business Executive, Author and Professor, Harry Jansen Kraemer ‘77

Lawrence Scholars Secrets to Success panel discussions in:

  • Business…..10:30 – 11:45 a.m.    Steitz Hall, Room 102
  • International Careers…..10:30 – 11:45 a.m.    Steitz Hall, Room 202
  • Law…..1:00 – 2:15 p.m. Steitz Hall, Room 102
  • Athletics…..1:00 – 2:15 p.m.   Steitz Hall, Room 202
  • Arts & Entertainment…..2:30 – 3:45 p.m.   Steitz Hall, Room 102
  • Medicine…..2:30 – 3:45 p.m.  Steitz Hall, Room 202

You can also attend a Networking Lunch at Andrew Commons at 12:00 noon, giving you an opportunity to lunch with alumni.

Finally, there is the Japan’s Ministry of Education’s Japan English Teaching (J.E.T.) Info Session – Career Center 4:15  – 5:00 p.m., where Michael Van Krey ’94, Japanese teacher with Evanston Township High School and former JET teacher will discuss the application process as well as his experiences with the J.E.T. program.  Michael will be joined by Joette Bump, President  – JET Alumni Association, Wisconsin Subchapter.

Where are Oil Prices Headed?

Saturday marked another wowza LSB event, with our star-studded panel presenting some great information on the “buy side” of the market.  Dean DuMonthier ’88 gave a riveting characterization of the oil market, and seemed very bullish indeed.   Interestingly, the discussion centered around a $125 price for oil, whereas there seems to be a leak in the bottom of the barrel with prices falling back to $100 this past week.

One of the key areas of interest is the ratio of oil to natural gas prices relative to the British Thermal Unit (BTU) equivalent of about 8.  That is, where the price of oil has about eight times the energy content of a unit of natural gas, and therefore the price of oil should trade at around eight times the price of natural gas (I’ve also seen this ratio at 6).  Why is that?  Because oil and natural gas are imperfect substitutes, there is money on the table on both the supply and demand side if there is an imbalance.

With natural gas prices just under $5 and oil prices north of $100, that ratio is better than 20 rather than 8.  So, the question is, is that an anomaly that market forces will correct — that is, with rising natural gas prices and/or falling oil prices?  Or, is this a paradigm shift?  I sat in a group with Guy Scott ’88, and he gave us compelling cases on both sides (despite what Timothy Siegel at Forbes seems to think).

For another complementary perspective, check out James Hamilton’s discussion at Econbrowser.

Now, for those of you who are Discovering Kirzner, you might ask yourselves, which is more important to these guys — the price theory fundamentals, or some element of “discovery” and arbitrage?

For those of you not Discovering Kirzner, I hope the panel impressed upon you the ubiquity of a relatively straightforward applications of competitive markets a la Landsburg Chapter 7.

If any of the panelists happen to be reading this, thanks for coming.  It is really great to have you back on campus.  And it is great to see you bring your professionalism to our co-cirricular events.  We hope to see you again soon.

Lawrence Scholars in Law Today (Thursday) 5:30

Be sure to get over to the Warch Campus Center Cinema  today at 5:30 p.m to see distinguished alumnus Tony Valukas (Class of 1965) talk about his career and the Lehman Brothers collapse.  Mr. Valukas is a hot commodity right now, and just yesterday the Legal Times points to continued congressional interest in Mr. Valukas’s services.

Congress Keeps Calling on Jenner & Block’s Valukas

A 2,200-page report on the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy is still reverberating on Capitol Hill, where the report’s author, Jenner & Block chairman Anton Valukas, appeared again today to talk about what he found. Continue reading Lawrence Scholars in Law Today (Thursday) 5:30

First LSB event of the year!

The LSB season opens this year with the Alternative Investments and hedge funds event, this coming Sunday. Bob Perille himself is leading this one, and it’s promising to live up to the high standards we have come to expect from him and his colleagues. This year’s event will be different from last year’s, however, so come even if you attended last year. Jason Spaeth is skype-ing in, participating as an LSB panelist for the first time, and he is going to be introducing the industry. Another good reason to come is the actual, real-life, taken-from-the-trenches (or tranches?) offering memoranda that Mr. Perille always brings. You get to work on those in teams, and, in the past, Mr. Perille has offered a prize of $100 for the team with the best presentation on their “mini case study.” So don’t miss your chance to learn something interesting about the world you live in–whether you want to become a private equity whiz or not.

That’s Entertainment

AC10-119 LSB Entertainment Industry Summit Poster
Click to Enlarge

For those of you grousing about looking for the whens and wheres of the Lawrence Scholars in Business Entertainment Summit, you’ve come to the right place. It is today at 4 p.m. in the Hurvis Room of the Warch Campus Center. Dinner to follow at 6, space permitting.

This is the final LSB event of the year, and should appeal to folks of all stripes, from the economics majors to the Conservatory and Arts students.

Click the poster for the full report.

Star-power at Lawrence this Saturday

AC10-119 LSB Entertainment Industry Summit Poster
Click to Enlarge

This Saturday the Lawrence Scholars in Business program will have its final event of the year: the Entertainment Summit. This event should be of interest not only to economics and other majors who are interested in the business of show-biz, but also to Conservatory and Arts students interested in getting into the entertainment world.

Five Lawrentians who know that world very well will be here to tell us about it: Alan Berger, Emeline Davis, Lee Shallat Chemel, Liz Cole, and Campbell Scott. Take a moment to click on those links, and marvel at the star-power arriving to campus on Saturday. Campbell Scott will be showing his new mockumentary, Company Retreat, at 7:15 pm on Friday, May 21st, in the Warch Cinema.

Please sign up in the Career Center, or by email at careercenter@lawrence.edu.

“HU-OOGE Paper Sellers Coming Through Here”

There seems to be some difference in the moment-to-moment intensity of an auction theory class and that of an actual auction.  Especially when the S&P is amidst an epic tank.

As evidence of that proposition, here is the highly-recommended audio from an auction pit in Chicago.  Sounds pretty exciting listening to a trillion dollars in wealth evaporate. So exciting, in fact, that I just set the “79s are trading” part as my ring tone.

I guess the LSB Chicago trip made it there a day late for this mayhem.  I look forward to hearing all about it.  Was there blood on the floor?

And, speaking of the Chicago trip, what is there to say about the level of awesomeness of the LSB program at this point? To quote Ben Lichtenstein from our audio clip, “Stop it, it’s got to hit a limit.”

(Picture taken from the Brokers with Hands on Their Faces blog).

LSB Getting its Props

This week’s This is Lawrence video gives a big shout out to the Lawrence Scholars in Business program, spearheaded by the intrepid, semi-fearless and always venturesome, Professor Adam Galambos.

Here is the video!!!

Can you believe all the talent on display? I spotted trustee and LSB champion Bob Perille, LSB-Scholarship winner and I&E reading group member Katelin Richter, Tyler Vane, Suzie Kraemer, Colin Smith, Murtaza, Professors Galambos and Finkler, and many others. Make sure to send it to your parents and friends. And your friends’ parents. And your parents’ friends. It’s simply the best This is Lawrence video in memory.

Speaking of LSB, the Chicago trip is coming up. That should be educational and entertaining. Don’t miss it.

And, speaking of entertaining, the Entertainment Industry Summit is coming in May.

Could LSB rock any harder?

LSB Returns in Spectacular Fashion!

This weekend the Lawrence Scholars in Business program bis hosting a number of esteemed alums from the investment world. This weekend’s program kicks off at 2 p.m. over in the Warch Campus Center.

LSB Investment Management Summit If you have even an inkling of interest the financial markets coordination of savings and investment, the regulation (or absence thereof) of the financial sector, or even a career in that field, you should think about coming out.  (This couldn’t come at a better time for my 240 class, which is learning about the Stigler-Peltzman Capture Theory).

The participant information is below and you should sign up in the career center ASAP, or sooner.

Lawrence Scholars in Business Portfolio Management Summit

Dean DuMonthier ’88 • portfolio manager, Copia Capital
Copia Capital is a Chicago-area investment firm that manages hedge funds invested in the utilities, industrials, energy and materials sectors. The company is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley’s hedge fund company, FrontPoint Partners.

Chuck Saunders ’84 • partner and senior portfolio manager, NorthRoad Capital Management
NorthRoad Capital Management is an employee-owned investment firm in New York City.  Saunders manages the firm’s international and global public equity portfolios for both private  and institutional clients.

Christopher Serra ’92 • senior equity research analyst, Thrivent Investment Management
Thrivent Asset Management is the securities brokerage and financial advisory subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, which provides financial and insurance products and services to nearly 3 million members.  Thrivent Investment Management offers full and discount brokerage services, mutual funds and education funding products.

Markus Specks ’06 • hedge fund analyst, Varde Partners, Inc.
Varde Partners, Inc., is a privately-held investment advisor specializing in alternative investments and distressed assets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the firm also has offices in London and Singapore.

Please sign up in the Career Center or e-mail: careercenter@lawrence.edu

Lawrence Scholars in Business Chicago trip

The LSB program sponsors an educational trip to Chicago every year. The purpose of the trip is to provide students an “immersion experience” in one of the country’s financial centers. The trip will take place during reading period, on May 6th and 7th. We will leave at 6:00 am on Thursday, May 6th, and return in the evening on Friday. We will have a full schedule, visiting the Chicago Board of Trade, the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as some firms including Madison Dearborn, Copia Capital, the consulting firm Deloitte and Touche, and The Northern Trust Bank. The costs of the trip are covered by the LSB program. This trip is a great opportunity to learn about the financial world (and a consulting firm) up-close, in a way that you couldn’t do on your own.

If you would like to join, sign up by giving Adam Galambos an envelope with $20 in it, and your name on it. We will return the money to you when you board the bus at 5:45 am on May 6th. Should there be more students interested in going than spaces, preference will be given to students who did not go on the trip last year and to juniors and seniors, as they are less likely to have another chance to go. But, if you are interested in the business world, sign up, whoever you are—if you don’t get to go, we’ll return your deposit, of course. The deadline for signing up is April 12th. Email Adam Galambos with questions.

Reminder: LSB Investments Summit Today

There is no bigger LSB supporter than trustee Bob Perille ‘80, who is spearheading today’s LSB investments summit.   Mr. Perille is the managing director at Shamrock Capital and a very sharp cat, indeed.   That should be reason enough to come out today.

But, of course, there’s more.   Mr. Perille will be joined by Alan Allweiss ‘77, Dan Howell ‘74, and Bryan Torcivia ’81.   That’s a lot of talent in one room.

The Summit starts at 3:30 over in the Hurvis room.

Here is Prof. Galambos’ original post on the matter.

Too Much of a Good Thing

In preparation for this weekend’s big LSB Investments Summit, it might be useful to ask the question:  Is venture capital a big waste?

Well, that might be overstating it a bit, but the potential profitability of venture capital is the topic of James Surowiecki’s new piece in MIT’s Technology Review.   He diagnoses the problem of there being too much VC money out there, and the glut is putting a big crimp in the side of an industry that once produced monster profits.   On the other hand, shouldn’t we expect that a profitable industry would attract entry, driving (economic) profits to zero? (Hint: yes).    Is that a bad thing or a good thing?

Those interested in diving deep into this subject should consult Josh Lerner’s new book, Boulevard of Broken Dreams:  Why Public Efforts to Boost Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Have Failed — and What to Do About It.

Of course, I strongly endorse you reading up and peppering this weekend’s panel with questions, prefaced with things like, “I read in the recent Technology Review that…” and “Do you agree with Josh Lerner that…”

UPDATE: Here’s Lerner interviewed at Vox.